Eyes front: The barreleye fish has developed the unique ability to move its eyes inside its head so it can spot predators and food in pitch-black seas. Photo courtesy MBARI/Barcroft Media

From BYM Marine Environment News

The first ever visit to the UK of an international travelling exhibition about the mysterious, amazing and fascinating world of the deep sea is officially opened to the general public at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum.

The exhibition is a visual interaction between art, science and technology and reveals the wonders inherent in the unusual organisms living deeper than light. Deeper than Light presents unique discoveries and impressions from deep sea expeditions along the mid-Atlantic Ridge.  It also combines new scientific discoveries, unusual deep-sea life forms, advanced marine technology, biological samples, fascinating film footage and visualisations, photos, paintings, drawings and scientific illustrations.

At this evening's private viewing, John Edwards, Keeper of Science and Maritime History at Aberdeen City Council will welcome guests to the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. Professor Stephen Logan, Senior Vice Principal at the University of Aberdeen will also welcome guests on behalf of the Institution before introducing Professor Monty Priede, Director of Oceanlab at the University. Professor Priede will give an overview of the exhibition and introduce Dr Nikki King, a Research Fellow at Oceanlab, who has been instrumental in the arrangements ahead of the exhibition opening, and also provide a warm welcome to David Shale.  Guests will then have the opportunity to tour the exhibition.

Professor Priede Director of Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen said: "We are delighted to welcome the MAR-ECO Deeper than Light exhibition to Aberdeen. Oceanlab has been involved in the MAR-ECO project for many years, and now that we are running the UK MAR-ECO project (ECOMAR), it is great that we can inform the public about our research and the deep sea in such a fun and interactive way."

Dr King said: "This is the first ever visit to the UK of this international exhibition featuring the fascinating world of our deepest oceans. I am delighted that wildlife cameraman, David Shale, who has been onboard many of the research cruises over the last few years, is attending Monday evening's private viewing. Many of David's photographic images is on display throughout the exhibition.

"Deeper than Light will be a fantastic opportunity to highlight the research which is being conducted in our deepest oceans to a wider audience - the general public.  In addition, the exhibition also demonstrates the synergy effect of collaborations between scientists, technology and artists. The significance of the scientific collections in modern science will also be emphasised."

A Public Open Day is also taking place on Saturday, April 5 between 11.30am and 1.00pm at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. A series of three public talks will be presented covering the deep sea; the luminous deep (3D computer animation and the unseen ecosystem); and recent and exciting discoveries by the European Census of Marine Life.  Members of the public are invited to attend and admission is free. To book a place at the Public Open Day, please contact Aberdeen City Council - Lyn Gray on: (01224) 337700 or Tess McLean on: (01224) 33773.

The exhibition has been produced in Norway by Bergen Museum and the international research project MAR-ECO www.mar-eco.no, part of the global initiative Census of Marine Life (CoML; www.coml.org).  Deeper than Light is also supported by the DESEO group, a collaboration of deep sea projects within the Census of Marine Life.

Deeper than Light's visit to Aberdeen is being led by Oceanlab at the University of Aberdeen, in partnership with Aberdeen Maritime Museum. Oceanlab run the ECOMAR project - www.oceanlab.abdn.ac.uk/ecomar - a consortium aimed at research on the mid-Atlantic Ridge at the sub polar front and Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone. The project is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and is a UK element of MAR-ECO.

Johannes Høyer, Communication Coordinator, Bergen Museum and University of Bergen has been involved in taking the exhibition across Europe. He said: "The MAR-ECO project already contributed to several well attended exhibitions in Norway and abroad. Audiences of all ages are fascinated and surprised by the combination of new scientific discoveries, curious deep-sea life forms, advanced marine technology, and impressive artwork. I very much hope that the Aberdeen public give their support to this wonderful exhibition where the secrets of the deep sea will be unearthed."

The Deeper than Light exhibition runs until August 2.

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